PE Nuclear study plan

Draw, from memory, the primary, secondary, and ultimate-heat-sink flow paths for both a PWR and a BWR, labeling every major component and its boundary

Build a table of at least 10 major components (reactor coolant pump, pressurizer, steam generator, control rod drive mechanism, accumulator, residual heat removal, main feedwater, emergency diesel generator, containment isolation valve, main steam isolation valve) listing function, dominant failure mode, and safety significance

Trace the sequence of system interactions during a loss of main feedwater, naming which systems respond, in what order, and which automatic trips are expected

Work 40 practice items on plant systems and components, and write a corrected explanation for every miss

Derive k-effective from the multiplication factor definition and apply the six-factor formula to a described lattice

Compute reactivity changes from control rod motion, soluble boron concentration, fuel temperature, and moderator temperature using standard coefficients

Predict the direction and magnitude of power change from the moderator temperature coefficient, void coefficient, and Doppler feedback during a power excursion

Quantify xenon and samarium reactivity worth over time after a power change and identify the post-shutdown xenon peak

Solve 15 numerical problems on delayed neutrons, prompt criticality, reactor period, and reactivity balance with no reference material

Apply the steady-state core energy balance to compute core mass flow, coolant temperature rise, and thermal power for three plant conditions

Distinguish critical heat flux from departure from nucleate boiling, and explain how each constrains the operating power limit

Analyze natural circulation, two-phase flow regimes, and each decay-heat removal path available after shutdown

Classify and solve 20 heat transfer problems (conduction, forced convection, boiling, radiation) by selecting the correct correlation and checking units

Compute dose rate and integrated dose from point, line, and area sources using inverse-square geometry and shielding attenuation factors

Convert among activity, exposure, absorbed dose, and dose equivalent, stating the correct units at every step

Apply occupational and public dose limits plus ALARA principles to a planned maintenance task, and propose at least three exposure-reduction controls

Justify shielding material choices for gamma versus neutron fields and explain buildup factor effects

Sit a cumulative timed exam spanning Domains 1 through 4 and log every miss by domain

Trace the front end of the fuel cycle from mining through conversion, enrichment, and fabrication, quantifying the mass balance at each stage

Compare once-through and reprocessing back ends, and classify waste streams by class and disposal pathway

Map the licensing framework from application through operating license, including the safety analysis report and technical specifications

Apply the design-basis accident hierarchy and the single-failure criterion to a hypothetical initiating event

Distinguish the scope of the major radiation protection, reactor siting, and quality assurance regulations

Interpret limiting condition for operation and required action statements for five sample plant conditions and decide the correct response

Sequence a plant startup from cold shutdown to full power, naming each hold point and the surveillance that must be satisfied before progressing

Explain instrument channel checks, calibration, trip setpoint verification, and how redundancy and diversity support trip reliability

Compare stress corrosion cracking, irradiation-assisted cracking, embrittlement, and flow-accelerated corrosion by mechanism, susceptible material, and inspection method

Re-work at least 30 previously missed items from Domains 1 through 4, writing a corrected rationale for each

Solve 10 cross-domain scenarios that require combining reactor physics, thermal-hydraulics, and systems reasoning in one answer

Drill the two lowest-scoring sub-topics identified in your error log until error rate drops below 20%

Rehearse the 20 highest-yield formulas from memory and verify each by dimensional analysis

Complete two full-length timed practice exams under exam conditions with no notes

Classify every miss by root cause (knowledge gap, misread, unit error, or time pressure) and close the top three causes

Recite the 20 most-used formulas and 15 key regulatory limits from memory without prompting

Assemble a final one-page summary sheet limited to facts you have personally verified during review